Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and coin collecting.I am from india and working in US. And started collecting US silver proof set now. And would like to know if there is any restriction to carry personal collectibles internationally. Thank you.
Sometimes there is. It all depends on the laws of the country you are entering or leaving. Best bet would be to contact your consulate and ask them.
India does have some wierd customs which I highly suggest you should do some research beforehand. Last time I remember reading a news online, an Indian dude bought some antique coins from Thailand and they got confisicated. The reason is something to do with, if they have any historical importance, he will be jailed or some nonsense. Well it seems crazy absurd but it's always safer to check it out. Cheers.
Normally you should be able to send such things through the mail. You should really check though with your government. I know when my son was in Europe we sent currency, coins, film, cameras and just about anything that would fit in a box or package through the USMail. Probably could have sent a car if it would fit in a box and paid the postage. We sent all kinds of coins back and forth. Don't know if it was legal, but they went through with out any problems.
Just carl, I don't quite agree with the case of India. In fact even sending cash out of India is strictly prohibited as one member here had trouble making his payment to a US seller. Thankfully the only way he could send money out was via credit card and yes, appearently he can't use Western Union. I presume anything of coins or valuable will be prohibited - I know the Russian customs and that was already too troublesome.
I would follow Doug's advice and check with the consulate from India. The consulate should have a web page and in that web page they may have an email address for the purpose of answering such questions. Lou
Thanks guys.. I will do my checking before i plan to take it with me. But is there any restriction by US not to carry these abroad.
shouldn't be, I smuggled and smuggled my arms off when I went to Poland, literally pounds of coins, all those retired currencies from when all those countries were communists.
It may be a good idea though to not try and take millions of pennies or nickels back home. "(...) the newly enacted final regulation prohibits, with certain exceptions, the exportation, melting or treatment of one-cent and 5-cent coins. Some of the exceptions allow for small amounts of these coins to be exported as pocket change, and for recreational and numismatic purposes." http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=press_release&ID=771 No idea what "small amounts" translates to (does anybody know?), but I suppose it won't affect collectors. Christian
When my son went to the University of Krakow, Poland he also went to almost every country in Europe. Like I said we sent just about anything you could think of back and forth. Lots of coins from everywhere. While he was there he found relatives in Germany and lots of coins from there got here through the mail. Where I work and have worked there are people from just about everywhere on Earth and they give me coins from their homeland and they occationally have relatives send more. At a local flea market there is guy from Russia with as many Russian coins as I would like. I bought a few for the fun of it. I know that some of this is not considered legal but it goes on and on and on anyway. At the international coin show here at the Rosemont Convention Center there are people from all over the world and they bring coins from there. So if they can do it so can anyone I would think. Wait, I don' t think I've ever seen a coin from the African Congo anywhere here. Possibly people are afraid Tarzan would stop that. dd: Wonder if they would have Tarzan's chimp Cheetah on the coins. And just like our Presidents wives, would they have Tarzan's Jane on coins???????:goofer:
If you want to bring your collection back to India, the Indian government rules are much relaxed now a day compared to what they had 5 years back. Before 2002, one can't bring any coin in India which was 100 or more years old. All such coins were supposed to be confiscated by custom officers. All modern coins (100 years or less) were allowed to be bought in India after paying a duty tax. There were no taxes on base metal coins but a very heavy tax (around 150% of melt price) on all silver and gold coins. Now since 2002, the Indian government changed the policy and allows Indian citizens to bring up to 10 kilograms of gold and 25 kilograms of Silver in any form without paying any duty tax. One can bring more but need to pay duty tax on above those limits. Last year I was visiting India and took much of my collection with me. When reached at Delhi airport, the custom officer asked me about those coins and I said, 'This is my hobby and part of my collection which I am bringing back'. He was fine with that and I didn't had any problem. Regards, Ballabh Garg
